Asian American and Pacific Islanders

Asian woman wearing black-rimmed glasses and red cardigan with off-white ribbing and sleeves stands in front of corrugated metal wall with orange painted wall beside it
Sung Yeon Choimorrow  May 24, 2019 8:16AM EDT

Say My Name: On the Importance of Taking Up Space and Making Noise

This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Sung Yeon Choimorrow—executive director of National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum—says AAPI women need to step into their power.
Three Native American women, standing, full-length, facing front, holding beaded(?) bags, Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Wasco County, Oregon.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  May 10, 2019 11:49AM EDT

Smithsonian Highlights How Transcontinental Railroad Impacted Native Americans

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center delves into how the railroad—largely constructed by Chinese immigrants—added to the destruction of Native American lands, livelihood and sovereignty.
The Farewell and Akwafina. Asian woman with long dark hair and nose ring.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  May 8, 2019 5:18PM EDT

WATCH: Awkwafina Stars in New Dramatic-Comedy 'The Farewell'

The new film, based on a true story, explores how an Asian family deals with the impending death of a loved one.
Nailed It. A row of colorful pointed nails with gems.
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  May 6, 2019 1:33PM EDT

New Doc Peeks Inside Nail Salons' Booming Business

“Nailed It” explores the industry’s history and connection to the Vietnamese-American community.
Hasan Minhaj. South Asian man with black hair and beard smiles while wearing white shirt in front of blue and teal background
N. Jamiyla Chisholm  May 1, 2019 2:28PM EDT

A100 List 2019 Celebrates Influential Asian American Pacific Islanders

Hasan Minhaj, Akwafina and H.E.R. make this year’s list, whose release marks the beginning of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Asian revelers march among red and yellow and white and blue decorations hanging from grey and brown city buildings
Sameer Rao  Feb 5, 2019 2:53PM EST

Lunar New Year Reads: 5 Reflections on the Year of the Pig

Read five Asian-American writers’ reflections on this auspicious day for members of their communities.
Niko Santos, Jake Choi and Vincent Rodriguez III. Three Asian men in black and white and red and brown clothing pose in front of orange and brown background and grey text that spells "THE ADVOCATE"
Sameer Rao  Jan 9, 2019 5:01PM EST

3 Rising Asian-American Actors Cover The Advocate

Jake Choi, Vincent Rodriguez III and Nico Santos talk about being young, queer and Asian-American in Hollywood.
Beige sculptures of dumplings on grey background
Sameer Rao  Jan 4, 2019 2:37PM EST

READ: Asian Americans Preserve Food Memories Via Art

Artists Stephanie Shih, Monyee Chau and Annie “RC” Shen discuss how their culinary traditions influence their art.
Greta Lee. Asian-American woman with magenta hair in red and white dress poses in front of grey grid wall and next to white text that reads "THE CUT"
Sameer Rao  Dec 3, 2018 12:09PM EST

Greta Lee Talks 'KTown' and Asian-American Narratives

The actress’ upcoming HBO series could become the first premium cable show to center Asian Americans.
Mira. Illustration of Indian girl in blue and gold outfit holding gold and blue magnifying glass in front of white background
Sameer Rao  Nov 30, 2018 4:20PM EST

Disney Jr. Enlists All-Desi Cast for 'Mira, Royal Detective'

Aparna Nancherla, Jameela Jamil and Kal Penn will lend their voices to the animated series about a girl who solves mysteries in a fictional South Asian kingdom.
Hasan Minhaj. Brown man with black hair and beard wears grey shirt and black pants and holds hands up in front of screen with pink chart and text and beige background
Sameer Rao  Oct 29, 2018 2:15PM EDT

WATCH: Hasan Minhaj Denounces Asian Americans Fighting Affirmative Action

The comedian breaks down the importance of affirmative action in higher education—and how a group of Asian Americans is using anti-Black rhetoric in an attempt to dismantle it.
Tyrus Wong. Illustration of Asian child smiling in white shirt and black pants on brown floor near multicolored letters spelling "google" and white paper with multicolored illustrations
Sameer Rao  Oct 25, 2018 4:05PM EDT

Google Doodle Illustrates Tyrus Wong's Creative Voyage

Google’s homepage depicts the Chinese-American artist’s path from curious art student to Disney illustrator on his 108th birthday.
Kristina Wong. Asian woman in purple and pink shirt holding right thumb up in front of purple screen
Sameer Rao  Oct 19, 2018 1:01PM EDT

Michelle Kwan, Kristina Wong Urge Asian-Amerian Community to Vote

Just 49 percent of eligible Asian American and Pacific Islanders voted in the 2016 presidential election. These entertainers want to change that this fall.
Sepia photograph of two Filipina girls and two Filipino boys in white and brown clothing and black and brown hats in front of white wall
Sameer Rao  Oct 16, 2018 11:59AM EDT

New Podcast Shares Uniquely Filipino-American Stories

Journalist Paola Mardo’s podcast Long Distance uncovers the highs and lows of Filipino Americans’ personal narratives.
Dozens of people hold and rally around a massive red sheet with "We believe all survivors" printed on it in navy blue.
Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Marcela Howell, Jessica González-Rojas  Oct 4, 2018 5:54PM EDT

This Is a Defining Moment for Women of Color Who Survived Sexual Violence [OP-ED]

“We saw an educated White woman with financial, legal and familial support testify about being sexually assaulted, and then face the emotionally exhausting experience of being cross-examined for hours and disbelieved by many Senators. We got the message: If they won’t listen to her, it will be even worse for us.”
Black and white photograph of two Asian-American girls and an Asian-American woman holding signs while sitting on building steps
Sameer Rao  Sep 28, 2018 2:40PM EDT

READ: Can East Asian Americans Reclaim 'Yellow' for Themselves?

Writer Kat Chow revisits the history of the term and asks what it would take to wrestle it from racists.
John Cho in grey suit with blue and white shirt on dark grey background behind light blue and white text; John Cho in white shirt on grey background in front of white text
Sameer Rao  Sep 19, 2018 5:20PM EDT

KoreAm Journal Relaunches as Pan-Asian-American KORE Mag

Editor-in-Chief Serena Kim says the new magazine goes beyond its predecessor’s primarily Korean-American focus to cover members of other Asian-American diasporic communities.
Awkwafina. Asian-American woman with blond hair, wearing red and white top
Muqing M. Zhang  Aug 22, 2018 6:02PM EDT

Performing Blackness Won't Fill Our Asian-American Culture Deficit [OP-ED]

The fight for media representation has become one of the most prominent rallying cries among Asian Americans. But if we wish to subvert White hegemony, we must step away from the imitation of Whiteness’ exploitation of Blackness.
Black-and-white photograph of Bruce Lee with black hair in black shirt in front of stone wall and grass and trees
Sameer Rao  Aug 20, 2018 1:19PM EDT

How Bruce Lee's 'Enter the Dragon' Opened Doors for APIA Film Heroes

NPR commemorates the film’s 45th anniversary with a retrospective on its accomplishments and lead actor.
"Crazy Rich Asians" cast and author on green carpet in multicolored formal attire in front of green and gold wall with gold text
Sameer Rao  Aug 20, 2018 11:12AM EDT

UPDATE: 'Crazy Rich Asians' Earns $35.3 Million Opening Weekend

The Asian-led romantic comedy topped the domestic box office.